Which of the following is a tertiary consumer ?

Options

A. Zooplanktons
B. Lion
C. Birds
D. Wolf

Answer

To determine which of the given organisms is a tertiary consumer, we need to understand the concept of trophic levels in an ecosystem.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Trophic Levels**:
- Trophic levels represent the position of an organism in a food chain.
- The first trophic level consists of producers (plants), the second level consists of herbivores (primary consumers), the third level consists of carnivores that eat herbivores (secondary consumers), and the fourth level consists of carnivores that eat other carnivores (tertiary consumers).

2. **Identifying Producers**:
- The first trophic level includes producers like plants that perform photosynthesis.

3. **Identifying Primary Consumers**:
- The second trophic level includes herbivores that feed on producers. Examples include zooplankton, grasshoppers, and cows.

4. **Identifying Secondary Consumers**:
- The third trophic level includes carnivores that feed on herbivores. Examples include wolves and birds.

5. **Identifying Tertiary Consumers**:
- The fourth trophic level includes top carnivores that feed on other carnivores. Examples include lions and humans.

6. **Analyzing the Options**:
- From the options given:
- **Zooplankton**: Primary consumer (2nd trophic level).
- **Lion**: Tertiary consumer (4th trophic level).
- **Birds**: Secondary consumer (3rd trophic level).
- **Wolf**: Secondary consumer (3rd trophic level).

7. **Conclusion**:
- The only organism that fits the definition of a tertiary consumer from the options provided is the **Lion**.

### Final Answer:
The tertiary consumer among the options is **Lion**.

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